The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-17
And Explains, in His Happy, Truthful Way,
Why They Displease Some People IN
Trying to Please Everybody.
The Character of the Religious Press Is
Also Discussed by Baptist Editors.
Interesting Debates on Improvements in
the Methods of Theological Education"
and "WOmans Work in the Church."

Cyrus Bentley, of Chicago, presided. He is a
smooth-shayeu. old-fashioned. solid gentleman,
who understands his business and attends to it
with elegant precision. After devotional exer-
cises by DR.. Stott. of Franklin College. the pre-
siding officer introduced Robert j. Burdette, who
was to open the discussion on the Proper Fcnc-
ton and Net influence of the Newspapers of To-
day" Mr.. Burdette needs very little Introduction
to any American audience. He has lectured so
extensively. and his mustache has risen and
fallen before many people, that his kindly,
contagious smile is known almost we'll as his
most grotesque bits of humor. He was quickly
esconced in the pulpit. and spoke as follows:
feel that ought to apologize for coming
before you with the crude thoughts that am
about to present on this great question which
has agitated the world much, and about
which l have myself written great many pages
at various times. If had found more time for
preparation could have written something that
would have thrilled you, but as only had all
the time there was l must beg you to
be satisfied with what have prepared.
The limitations of the subject assigned me
would be appalling to me, If newspaper man
could be appalled, by anything. l confess. that
while giancing over the boundless prairie of
newspaper function and influence. felt very
much like the old lady who had SO much to do
she didn't know whore to begin, and so she lay
down and took a nap. But there are people who
rush boldly In where angels hesitate, and remain
outside when angels have entered, and SO, bred
to the easy use of the omnscisnt edit
orial we" cheerfully assume the
and the net influence of the secular
press, as, possibly, the new reporter would I'M
dertake to present a paper on the inspiration of
the Scriptures, future probation, or conditional
Immortality. l have long felt that this question
of newspaper function and influence should be
clearly and definitely defined. that all discussion
of the subject might be closed forever, and this
/ will now proceed to do To my entire satisfac-
ton. l will treat the matter with the serious
thought aud earnest appreciation which the i'm
portance and magnitude or tho subject demands.
II | seem to be frivolous IN manner speech, |
pray the brethren to bear with me patiently,
and remember that / was born that way.
apparently most frivolous. If l should look as
wise as L sometimes feel. it would make your
backs ache as you gazed upon me.
Originally, the functions of the newspaper
were described by its name. and the editor was a
public gossip who spent all mis- time in nothing
else but either to tell. or to hear some new
thing" AS the world grew, the business of the
newspaper enlarged; people multiplied, there
were more good things and moro mean things to
chronicle; more wars and REVEALS rooberies and
baptisms. conversions and hangiugs, births and
deaths, marriages and divorces, sermons and
stump speeches, and the newspaper told about
all of them 1t grew to be the great
OF Colossal
on approved business principles. well
arranged, thoroughly classified, SLOWLY dis
played and splendidy advertised. The news
paper is all things unto all men," You open
your daily paper and ask for what you want. 1t
Is here. Mr.. Greatheart. please show the domi-
ME what you have in the theological depart
ment. Were running a little low in this de-
partmen, just now. sir, but we'll show You
full line of church notices and UNCONVENTIONAL
news on Sunday morning. solid nonpareil,
the inside, next TO the railroad timetables; put
on your glasses and you'll find them, sir; look
hard" Something political, sir2 Mr. Worldly
Wiseman will attend to you; show the states
man our new chin-ift. Mr.. w; that will enable
a dumb to talk for hours without saying
anything" "Mr Badman. this young gentle
man wants something in your line; third aisle on
the sixth page. sir; youth see the
sign. Crimes just opposite, Sporting
News and Stock Reports" ''Tears, ladyl
Idle tears-something empty and softE Show
the lady to Poets corner. Mr.. Rhymer; Funny
column sir7 Yes sir, Mr. laxative, amuse this
young gentleman until MS friends call for him.
This is the stock 1t is differently ARRANGED
and carried in varying PROPORTIONS in different
newspapers. but it is about all there. We Ques-
ton the wisdom exhibited in adjusting the pro-
portions sometimes many times, in fact. The
day John Sullivan left Boston, the president of
a theological seminary made address before
the Baptist Social Union The leading iude-
pendent paper of Massachusetts next morning
gave five lines to the presidents speech. It
gave forty to John Sullivan. in which the great
slucger told what he would do when he reached
England, and how many human faces he pro-
posed to pound into pulp before he returned
We say, THAT is neither right nor sensible"
at is sensible" says the business manager, "be
cause it is business. More people will read
about Sullivan than will read about the Baptist
Social Union" But ID it good businesss don't
know but will venture to say without know
ing that the Baptist merchants and business
men of Boston represent more money, better
support, and greater influence in the advertising
columns of the Boston papers til an do the friends
and admirers of the pugiist But then, replies
the business manager, 'Tnis isn't Baptist
paper Your UNCONVENTIONAL paper will give
your Social Union two columns and dismiss Sui
Ivan with two or three lines, if it will not ignore
him" That is true. The newspaper ia
a great business with a religious de-
par.ment. to which it sometimes gives
great prominence. A Chicago paper. leap
ing into rivalry with the Bible Society, pub
ished the the revised version of the New Testa-
meut In one issue. If the chureh-member
thinks tie newspaper pays too little attention to
church matters, let him wait until some IN
lucky church gets itself bv the ears in row
with the choir. or the heresy of its pastor. Then
he will a full account of it.
The ckholders and the counting groom more
than the editor, manage this business and say
what it must publish, and Business. with big
B. does not suffer in any line from excess of
Christianity. Good newspapers publish news
that are unfit for family reading. and good bust
ness men, strictly in the way of business,
sell goods unfit for use. Wise men
lift up their voices and cry aloud against the
health-d estroying corset. and good business men
go right on, not only selling them. but aavertis-
ing them at great expense, persuadlng women
to wear them. the newspapers loudly protest
against the merciess slaughter of our beautiful
song birds, and our Sunday congregations, aud
TO some extent our Baptist congress are radiant
butchered in the way of business Tho honest
merchant whose word good as his bond,
nevertheless sells all wool shirts that shrink up
into mere short-seeved bandagea, aduterated
medicines, slate-stricken COAL and fishing tack lie
that will be used on Sunday. As gatherer aud
distributor of news. the press con-
ducts it's business accepted business
principles II sell what the jobber sends me-
saws the retailer. My goods are TO sample. "
says the iobber. ''and sell just what the m an
ufacturer supplies me-" and l make wha,
sells" saws the manufacturer. II" says the ed
ltor ssprint what the Associated Press sends
aud the reporters bring in" And |" says the
reporter, s.send in what happens; l don't make
the news And he doesnt-unless it is very
dull day. He may manufacture an Interview
occasionally but an interview is never news ex
cept to the man that is interviewed But.
says the world. you mustn't PRINT everything
we do .sThen," replies the editor, you mus,
| ouitdoiue IT. Go slow. Run your mandatory
| on shorter time and make better goods"
But 1t should give the news straight" L
| should not and it has right, to distort and
earb,e and misrepresent. Democratic